Elephant
The Commissioner
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So, figured I'd check in with all you fine people with a question: Starting a new job in September, and as the company is based in Maryland (just south of Balitmore) I will be heading there for a week of training, of which I will have a couple days to check the area out.
So the question becomes: where should I prioritize to visit, having never been to the area before? What restaurants would be "shouldn't miss" sites? Any input is appreciated. I just want to spend some good days there, and figure I might as well ask some experts in the area.
Thanks to anybody who responds. I don't know a specific date yet, just that it will be in September.
Just south of Baltimore? Where? Columbia?
If you've never been to the area, DC is a must. Even if you are closer to Baltimore, the extra drive time is worth it (40 minuets to DC from downtown B'More driving or an hour on metro/Marc train). Baltimore is OK, but DC is a must!
DC in September is a great time of year...but I would definitely shoot for later in the day, there are not many better places to watch a sunset than over the Lincoln Memorial sitting under the Washington Monument. If you can do 2 days, you can see more.
DC landmarks I love to see:
Air and Space
Natural History
American History
Portrait Gallery
All told there are 17, those are just a few of my favorites, and one you may be interested in is the American Indian Museum?
My favorite monument is the Jefferson, but it's outta the way a bit. You could do a couple museums, hit the Washington, WWII, Viet Nam, and Lincoln in a day...a long day, but the Jefferson, MLK, and FDR would be too much I think. You can rent scooters for cheap, or go on Segway tours...but they Segway eliminates Museum tours.
If it's only one day, I would suggest Air and Space Museum, Natural History, or American History, dinner at Old Ebbett's Grille, and the sunset over the Lincoln from the Washington Monument. In fact, you could walk from OE Grille to the Washington, then walk to the Lincoln as the sun sets so you can see both, and the WWII as you walk past on your way to the Lincoln Memorial.
Then? I would definitely do Annapolis over Baltimore. Dinner on the docks in Annapolis is as good as it gets in Maryland...the cobblestone streets, the many different restaurants to choose, the waterfront all right next to the Naval Academy...pretty nice. Eat a crab cake here!
And if Baltimore is your choice, stay downtown by the Inner Harbor. I try to stay away from the Inner Harbor itself unless I'm going to the Science Museum with the kids. I usually am over on Pier 6 for dinner, either Phillips (Great crab cake, just small and overpriced, plenty of other places to get good crab cakes). There is a Fog De Chao, Brazilian steak house and the Capital Grille. My favorite is the Capital Grille.
And if you really want to do a Maryland dinner, eat some Maryland Blue Crabs at Mike's Crab House North in Pasadena or Harris Crab House on Kent Narrows if you can make it over the bridge.
If you have any other questions...just ask.